Damage Control

A year ago, our country sat riveted to newscasts showing the destruction of a national treasure - Hurricane Katrina's devastation of New Orleans. You might ask what that has to do with a review of Kristi Gold's September release, DAMAGE CONTROL - HOTEL MARCHAND. Turns out, the answer is quiet a lot, actually. Renee Marchand returned to the Big Easy a failure, having left Hollywood in disgrace after Pete Traynor walked out on the movie she staked her career on. Professionally shamed, Renee is also devastated on a personal level, since his disappearance followed a night of passion. She refocuses her life, determined to help save her family's hotel, a beloved landmark. Trouble begins when Pete Traynor shows up in New Orleans, scouting a movie location. Will Renee be able to put aside her personal feelings for the good of her family? And why has Pete chosen to insinuate himself back in her life after abandoning her in the first place? Even as the winds of Hurricane Katrina were actually blowing, Kristi was writing about the rebirth of a city dear to her heart. She wrote: ...they proceeded up the street past myriad shops, restaurants and the occasional bar, sure signs that the city had begun to completely recover from Katrina's devastation... Kristi's optimism and love for New Orleans makes me wonder if she had a crystal ball. Kristi says this was the toughest book she'd ever written. Don't miss this novel of hope and rebirth for both a city and for the love between Pete and Renee.

Movie producer Renee Marchand returns home to New Orleans to regroup following a major fiasco. She agrees to take over public relations for the family run Hotel Marchand though she insists this is temporary as she plans to return to Southern California to reenergize her career. Film director Pete Traynor comes to New Orleans seeking locations for a film he is planning to make. He stays at the Hotel Marchand where he sees Renee; three years ago they shared a torrid one night stand, but though both wanted more but career commitments ended their relationship before it began. Now he wants to start where they left off while she feels the same, but fears this time her heart will not recover once he leaves her, which she assumes will be as soon as he completes his mission. The latest Hotel Marchand post Katrina romance is a fine entry in a warm series as the lead couple is a nice pairing who belong together. However, that also leads to the conflict of when he will leave her behind as he returns to California. This conflict seems forced and adding to the hero and heroine's worry is neither of the stars wants to admit the truth. Still readers will enjoy Hollywood in New Orleans as the likable Pete and the nice Renee complete what they started three years ago with lust metamorphosing into love. Harriet Klausner